New GPIO Pin Functionality in Flea2 FL2G-xx and Ladybug3 Models

Subject

Applicable Product(s)

Flea2 FL2G-13S2M/C-C

Flea2 FL2G-50S5M/C-C

Ladybug3 LD3-20S4C

Application Note Description

The purpose of this Technical Application Note is to document the new general purpose input/outut (GPIO) pin functionality that is available in Flea2 FL2G-xx and Ladybug3 cameras, which includes pin opto-isolation and separated ground pins.

Overview

With the introduction of the Flea2 FL2G-13S2M/C, FL2G-50S5M/C and Ladybug3 20S4C models, the GPIO functionality has been enhanced to provide one opto-isolated input pin and one opto-isolated output pin. The opto-isolators provide protection against voltage spikes or ground loop conditions that may otherwise cause damage to the camera. It is also designed to meet industrial application requirements for +5 V to +24 V triggering and strobe, and minimize the need for external current limiting resistors.

Customers requiring four output lines (e.g. for sending a strobe pulse off each pin) will be directly affected by this change due to the presence of only 3 possible output lines (one opto-isolated, two bi-directional).

FL2G and FL2 GPIO Comparison

The following section details the similarities and differences in GPIO functionality between the new FL2G and original FL2 models.

All Flea2 FL2 and FL2G models use the same Hirose HR25-7TR-8SA female GPIO connector.

GPIO0 (Opto-Isolated Input) Circuit

The figure below shows the schematic for the opto-isolated input circuit.

Figure 2: Optical input circuit

Logical 0 input voltage: 0 VDC to +1 VDC (voltage at OPTO_IN)

Logical 1 input voltage: +1.5 VDC to +30 VDC (voltage at OPTO_IN)

Maximum input current: 8.3 mA

Behavior between 1 VDC and 1.5 VDC is undefined and input voltages between those values should be avoided

Input delay time: 4 μs

GPIO1 (Opto-Isolated Output) Circuit

The figure below shows the schematic for the opto-isolated output circuit. The maximum current allowed through the opto-isolated output circuit is 25mA (limit by PTC resistor), and the output impedance is 140Ω.

Figure 3: Optical output circuit

Response Time

The following table lists the switching times for the opto-isolator in the output pin, assuming an output VCC of 5 V and a 1 kΩ resistor.

Parameter

Value

Delay Time

9 μs

Rise Time

16.8 μs

Storage Time

0.52 μs

Fall Time

2.92 μs

Sample Voltage / Resistor Combinations

The following table lists several external voltage and resistor combinations that have been tested to work with the opto-isolated output.

External Voltage

External Resistor

OPTO_OUT Voltage

OPTO_OUT Current

3.3 V

1 kΩ

0.56 V

2.7 mA

5 V

1 kΩ

0.84 V

4.2 mA

12 V

2.4 kΩ

0.91 V

4.6 mA

24 V

4.7 kΩ

1.07 V

5.1 mA

30 V

4.7 kΩ

1.51 V

13.3 mA

GPIO2 / 3 (Bi-Directional) Circuit

Figure 4: GPIO2 / 3 Circuit

Input Side

Logical 0 input voltage: 0 VDC to +0.5 VDC (voltage at GPIO2 / 3)

Logical 1 input voltage: +1.5 VDC to +30 VDC (voltage at GPIO2 / 3)

Behavior between 0.5 VDC and 1.5 VDC is undefined and input voltages between those values should be avoided

To avoid damage, connect the ground (GND) pin first before applying voltage to the GPIO line.

Output Side

The maximum output current allowed through the bi-directional circuit is 25mA (limit by PTC resistor), and the output impedance is 40Ω.

The following table lists several external voltage and resistor combinations that have been tested to work with the bi-directional GPIO when configured as output.

External Voltage

External Resistor(Rexternal)

GPIO2/3 Voltage

3.3 V

1 kΩ

0.157 V

5 V

1 kΩ

0.218 V

12 V

1 kΩ

0.46 V

24 V

1 kΩ

0.86 V

30 V

1 kΩ

0.966 V

The following table lists the switching times for a standard GPIO pin, assuming an output VCC of 5V and a 1kΩ resistor.